Day 4.
Today would be an 8 mile hike back to the truck, this time along trail #1310, the Waptus River trail, the trail that we had intended to take on our first day. Looking back, I’m glad that we didn’t, as we were able to see much more by being on the ridgeline, not to mention the new experiences that we had gained…The first obstacle, of course, was to get back across the river crossing…You see, they told us to be sure to cross in the morning, because the water level would be lower, and that is the conventional logic.
Make river and stream crossings early in the morning, because the snow melt by late afternoon and evening cause the water levels to rise. Last night, before we went to bed, we walked down to the banks of the lake, and noticed that the levels of the lake hadn’t really changed, maybe up an inch? We thought, “Good, then the river won’t be up much…” However, when we got up this morning, and looked at the lake, the water level was considerably up, having crawled up another foot or so up the bank. I’m not sure how many inches in depth that correlated to, but, we knew then that the crossing was going to be up…
…Initially, I was busy taking pictures, then I could tell this wasn’t going as well as yesterday. I put the camera away, and I might add, watched with just a little concern as Greg fought his way across the river…
This time, Greg went first, and not ten feet across, things looked a lot different from yesterday…He was quickly up to his waist, in swift moving water, you could see him struggling a little with the current, trying to make sure he got good footing before taking another step. Initially, I was busy taking pictures, then I could tell this wasn’t going as well as yesterday. I put the camera away, and I might add, watched with just a little concern as Greg fought his way across the river. Time seemed to drag on, as he made his way across, and I could feel my heart race. Finally, the opposite side!!!
I could tell from the fact that there was no celebratory “Yahoo!” from the other bank, that this was not a fun experience…Then, it was my turn. As I took the plunge, I noted how quickly the water was to my knees, then mid thigh, then crotch, and you could really feel the current tugging at you, trying to sweep you along with it downriver. At its deepest point, where the water was close to my waist, the water would rush over the top of my trekking poles, which were feeling the river bottom in front of me for better purchase. With great relief, I reached the other side.
…If that level had been much higher, I think we would have been carried down river, bouncing and tumbling over the rocky bottom, as if we had been thrown into an industrial sized washing machine, and not on the gentle cycle!
Now, I was able to breath, and noticed that my heart was racing! Man, that was close!!! If that level had been much higher, I think we would have been carried down river, bouncing and tumbling over the rocky bottom, as if we had been thrown into an industrial sized washing machine, and not on the gentle cycle! I think it took us both a good hour on the trail before our hearts settled down. No more snow, but now we trudged along under the noon day sun, and was it hot!
…It was the thickest I’ve ever seen them. We’re sure to have spawned many a mosquito offspring with our fresh blood…
I think the temps today hovered around 95 to a 100 here in Eastern Washington, and we had to make frequent stops just to rest and water up. At one point, where the trail swept close to the river, we were besieged by mosquitoes. We couldn’t get our packs off soon enough, so that we could douse ourselves in bug spray! As Greg remarked, it reminded him of that commercial where the guy puts his arm in a box filled with the little buggers, and his arm is instantly covered with them…It was the thickest I’ve ever seen them. We’re sure to have spawned many a mosquito offspring with our fresh blood…Even though the bug spray kept them at bay, they still followed us for awhile down the trail, hoping to find a spot that we’d missed.
Looking ahead, I could see Greg was still in the midst of their swarm, the sunlight glinting off of their wings, reminding me of an angry swarm of bees. Finally, we reached the trail junction where we had gone so wrong days before, and were amazed that we had missed it. We just stood there for a minute, shaking our heads, wondering how in the world we had walked by and not seen it. It sure felt good to get to the truck, and get the boots and weight off of our backs. And, now, Air conditioning!!!! Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhh…
It was a great hike, filled with new sights, and experiences. We had never hiked so far without a trail to guide us, and it gave us more confidence to try doing it again, if the chance ever arises. Beautiful, rugged mountains abound here, and from the looks of the map, there are several more trails and areas that just beg to be explored. The Pacific Crest trail wanders right through the middle of it, from Snoqualmie Pass on I-90 to Stevens Pass, on highway 2… In all, we covered about 34, or 35 miles through a great part of the Alpine Lakes wilderness, saw several mountains with names like, Cone, Lemah, Summit Chief, Daniel, Bears Breast…Which brings up a point…
…or imagine the pride that you would feel telling your friends that you had camped at the base of Bears Breast, or how your (do I dare say it?) breast would swell with pride to know that you had viewed the mighty Bears Breast from the shores of Waptus Lake? Sigh…Count me as one of the many prideful boasters of seeing Bears Breast in the flesh…Yuck. It just don’t sound right…
As we were sitting at our campsite, enjoying the beautiful display of the mountains at Waptus Lake, and the towering majestic peak of Bears Breast, I wondered, “why not Arrowhead peak, or Diamond Head, or something like that, instead of Bears Breast?” I mean, if you have seen up close the magnificence of that mountain, I just thought it should be named something with a little more dignity befitting it’s noble stature, something with a nicer ring to it other than the description of a bruin’s mammary gland…I mean, really! How would it sound to say that, “Yep, this weekend I climbed Bears Breast!”, or imagine the pride that you would feel telling your friends that you had camped at the base of Bears Breast, or how your (do I dare say it?) breast would swell with pride to know that you had viewed the mighty Bears Breast from the shores of Waptus Lake? Sigh…Count me as one of the many prideful boasters of seeing Bears Breast in the flesh…Yuck. It just don’t sound right…